Musical instrument.



Patented lune I9,- I900.

A. llAccAsn-non.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Lpplication filed Oct. 38, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

THE Nrmms wcrcmco, PHOTO-LITHO. WASHKNGTON, D. u.

No. 65!,998. Patented lune I9, I900.

A. JACCARD-ROD. I MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Oct. 28, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

FIG 9 FIG--10 "m5 mmms PETERS w" iu-m'rawrm:vv WLSHINGTON, n. c.

Patented lune l9, I900.

No. 65l,998.

A. JACCABD-ROD. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Oct. 28, 1899.)

3 Sheets8heet 3.

(No Model.)

9 3 w W LL... .M: 2 6 314 1 H B 5 5 H!- #4 M 2 2 E m J Ira/M I I F F a oz T 0 Shawn 8 j L9 5 E 9 [720922603 %;6W @vc( w 4. .0, THE "cams FETERsco, PHOYO-LITHQ, WASNMTO n UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN THORENS, OF SAME PLACE.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651 ,998, dated June19, 1900.

Application filed October 28, 1 899.

gerialNo. 735,028. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED JACOARD-ROD, a citizen of the Swiss Republic,and a resident of Ste. Oroix, canton of Vaud, Switzerland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of auto- 1n aticall y-played musicalinstruments wherein' rotatably-mounted interchangeable disks ortune-sheets are employed, one for each tune or air, for actuating thesound-producing devices or musical combs of the instrument; and theobject of the invention is to provide mechanical devices whereby onedisk or tunesheet may be conveniently substituted for another.

In the accompan'yingdrawings, which serve to illustrate the invention,Figure 1 is a front elevation of the mechanism, partly in verticalsection. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, also partly in section.Fig. 3 isa horizontal section at line X X in Fig.1. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal section at line Y Y in Fig. 1. Figs. 5 to 10 are fragmentaryviews illustrating details of the mechanism which will be hereinafterdescribed.

In this construction each disk 1 is rotatively mounted on an axial stud2 on a bar 3, suspended by its upper end from a cord 4 or other flexibleconnector, which passes over guidepulleys 5 on a supporting frame orcarriage 6, which is common to all of the disks 1. The bar 3 and stud 2form the disk-holder. To the other end of each connector 4 is attached aweight 7, which serves to support its disk suspended. The carriage orframe 6 is slidably mounted on two horizontal fixed rods 9, which form aguideway, and is adapted to be shifted along said guideway either byhand or mechanically, as will be hereinafter explained. Thin uprightpendent partitions 8, fixed to the frame 6, guide the weights 7 in theirvertical movements and compel them to shift properly with the saidframe. A vertical sliding rod 10, Fig. 1, serves to lift that weight 7which is connected to the particular disk 1 which it is desired to lowerinto working or operative position, the raising of the weight permittingthe disk to descend by gravity. The lower end of the lifting rod 10 iscoupled to one arm of a lever 11, fulcrumed at 12, the other arm of saidlever carrying a counterweight 13, which tends to move the rod 10 upwardand to cause a laterally-projecting finger 14 on the lever 11 to bearcontinuously on an arm 15, Fig. 3, pivoted at 16 and provided with astud 17, which latter, by the pressure from the weight 13, is kept up tothe peripheryof a volute cam 18 on an arbor 19, which turns with aspring-barrel 20. This cam during the rotation of the springbarrel inthe direction of the arrow 3 imparts a to-and-fro or vibrating motion tothe lever 11.

A bar 21, Figs. 1 and 2, which carriers roll ers 22, that are applied tothe outer face of the operating-disk 1, is journaled insupporting-brackets 23 and 24, so that by turning the bar 21 its rollersmay be moved toward or from the disk, as the case may be. For effectingthis movement of the bar 21 the latter carries on its lower journal 26,Fig. 3, an arm 25, connected by a link 27 with an arm 28, pivotallymounted at 29 and connected at its other end to a spring 30, whichlatter tends to hold the arm 28 in the position seen in Fig. 3, and byso doingto hold the rollers 22 of the bar 21 pressed up elasticallyagainst the operating-disk 1, and thus keep this disk in operativecontact with the devices which actuate the combs 1 of the instrument.

The arm 28 is provided at its under side with a projection 31, which isin the circular path of a stud 32 on an arm 33, fixed to the arbor 19,and at each rotation of said arbor this stud impinges on the projection31 and swings the arm 28 in the direction of the arrow u, Fig. 3,thereby, through the intermediate mechanism described, rocking the bar21 on its journals away from the disk 1 to allow said disk to bereplaced by another. The bar 21 carries on its upper journal 34. asegment 35, which when the rollers bear on the disk 1 is situated overthe axial stud 2, resting in a notch of a support 36, and thuspreventing the said stud and disk from rising.

Assuming the parts to be primarily in the positions seen in thedrawings, the rotation of the spring-barrel 20 in the direction of thearrow y in Fig. 3 imparts a rotary motion to the disk 1 which is at thetime in operative position, the motion being imparted through the arbor37 and wheels 38 and 39, and the disk acts on the combs of theinstrument in the usual way. During this rotation of the spring-barrelthe cam 18, by its action on the stud 17 of the arm 15, gradually lowersthe rod 10, so that the disk 1 in operation is subjected to the liftingaction of its weight 7, which tends to elevate it to its position ofrest; but the movement upward of the diskis for the moment prevented bythe segment 35. As soon, however, as the continued rotation of thebarrel 20 shall have brought the stud 32 up to the inclined face a ofthe projection 31 on the arm 28 this latter and the arm Will be moved inthe direction of the arrow a, which has the effect of turning the bar 21and rollers 22 away from the face of the operative disk 1 until the stud32 rides onto the face bet the projection 31. During this movement assoon as the segment 35 releases the axial stud 2 of the disk the weight7 of the latter elevates it to the position of rest. The rollers 22 areheld in their inoperative position so long as the stud 32 remains incontact with the face I) of the projection 31.

By sliding the frame 6 along the guide-rods 9 any one of the suspendeddisks 1 may be brought to the horizontal position for being lowered intooperative position. The stud 17, actuated by the counterweight 13 andcam 18, is caused to move suddenly from the higher to the lower part ofthe cam. The rod 10 is suddenly elevated, thus elevating the weight 7which is now above it, and the disk 1 connected with that weight 7descends by gravity to the operative position. The stud 32 at thismoment passes from the face I) of the projection 31, and the arm 28, arm25, and bar 21 are returned to the position seen in the draw-- ings bythe spring 30, and this again brings the rollers 22 to bear on the disk1 now in operative position. This position of the parts will bemaintained until the barrel 20 shall have made a complete rotation, whenthe operation above described will be repeated.

The counterweight 13 may of course besubstituted by a spring and thespring 30 be substituted by a weight, as in the construction described aspring and weight are known equivalents. Any suitable flexibleconnectors may also be substituted for the cords 4 as chains, forexample.

The shifting of the frame 6 may be elfected in two ways-that is, thisframe may be shifted automatically by the spring-barrel 20 at the end ofeach revolution thereof, as described, or said frame may be shifted byhand, so that anyselected disk can be brought into the operativeposition. The means which permits of this to-and-fro motion of the frame6 is combined with a mechanism for disengaging one shifting mechanismwhen the other shall be engaged. This device or means comprises an arm40, Fig. 3, pivoted at41 and provided with an operating-stud 42, adaptedto bear on the cam 18. This arm is coupled by a rod 43 to one arm of anelbow-lever 44, Fig. 1, fulcrumed at 45, the other arm of said leverbeing coupled by a rod 46 to a crank 47 on a shaft 48, rotatably mountedin bearings on the top plate of the instrumentboX. The weight of the rod46 tends to hold the stud 42 up to the cam 18. On the shaft 48 is abevel-wheel 49, which gears with a similar wheel 50, fixed on a rockingpawlplate 51, Fig. 5, which latter carries near its ends twospring-pawls 52. This plate 51 is rocked at each rotation of the cam 18,and the pawls 52 engage, respectively, the teeth 53 on two rack-bars 54,which are fixed to the frame 6. The shoulders of the teeth on the bars54 face in opposite directions, and they are spaced to correspond to thedistance apart of the suspended disks 1. Therefore at each rockingmovement of the pawl-plate 51 the pawls thereon are caused to shift theframe 6, one pawl serving to shift it in one direction and the otherpawl in the opposite direction, the movement in each case be ing equalto the distance between two adjacent disks 1. On the rocking plate 51are pivotally mounted two unlocking dogs or pieces 55, one for eachpawl, whereby one pawl is thrown out of engagement with its rack whenthe other is engaged. Each bar 54 carries near each end a stud 56, whichat the end of the course or travel of the frame 6 impinges upon thecorresponding unlockingdog 55 and through it throws the correspondingoperating-pawl out of engagement. Each pawl carries a stud 57, on whichacts an arm 58, Fig. 4, which is pivotally mounted on the top plate ofthe instrument-box at one end and at the other end is coupled by a link59 to a piece 60 common to both links 59 and through this piece 60 to anarm 61, mounted on a shaft 62. On the other end of this shaft 62 isfixed another arm 63, coupled by means of a rod 64 to an operating-lever65, which has a knob or handle 66 projecting out at. the side of theinstrument-box, Fig. 1, so that by raising the rod 64 by hand, with theaid of said handle, the connected ends of the arms 58 may be made toapproach each other, whereby these arms impinge upon the studs 57 andpress the pawls 52 out of engagement with the teeth on the bars 54, sothat the frame 6 will not be shifted by said pawls until by the drawingdown of the rod 64 the pawls will be again permitted to engage.

On the rod 64 is jointed an elbow-lever 67, Fig. 1, fulcrumed at 68, theupright arm of said lever engaging a circumferential groove in a member69 of a clutch, said member being splined on a shaft 70, which hasbearings in the side of the instrument-box. The other member 69 of theclutch is rotatable on the shaft-70 and has fixed to it a crank 71. Thuswhen the rod 64 is moved upward the memher 69 of the clutch will bemoved or shifted into engagement with the other member 69, whereby thecrank 71 is connected operatively to the shaft 70. This latter shaft isconnected operatively by bevel-wheels 72 72 and 73 73 and an uprightshaft 74 with a shaft 75, which carries a crank-arm 76, Fig. 4, with astud or pin 77. This stud 77 is adapted to engage at each rotation ofthe shaft 75, Fig. 6,with one of the several notches 78 in a bar 79,fixed on the upper side of theframe 6, and by this engagement to shiftsaid frame step by step a .distance equal to that between any twoadjacent disks 1. The nu mber and spacing of the notches 78 correspondto the number and spacing of the disks 1, carried by the frame 6. Toinsure that each rotation of the shaft shall shift the frame 6 to justthe proper extent, an arm 80, Figs. 4 and 6, is pivoted on the top plateof the instrument-box and has a stud 81 and spring 82. The spring tendsto keep the stud 81 pressed up against the underside or edge of the bar79 and to cause said stud to engage at the proper time one of a-seriesof lockingnotches 83 in the lower edge of the bar 79. At each revolutionof the shaft 75 the stud 77 depresses the arm 80 and disengages its stud81 from the notch 83; but after the stud 77 passes the spring 82 willagain be free to cause the stud 81 to engage the next lockingnotch 83 assoon as the frame 6 shall have been moved to the proper extent. If,however, the clutch on the shaft 70 be disen: gaged and the frame 6 beshifted automatically by the cam 18, an arm 84, Figs. 4 and 6, on theshaft 62 will press down the arm 80, and thus disengage the stud 81 fromthe locking-notches in the bar 79.

When the different parts of the mechanism occupy the positions seen inthe drawings, the shifting of the frame 6 will be operated mechanically.Under these conditions when the barrel 20 rotates in the direction ofarrow 1 the stud 42 of the arm 40, Fig. 3, bearing on the cam 18, willbe actuated by said cam, so as to cause the rocking plate 51, Fig. 4, torock in the direction of the arrow to until it occupies the positionseen in Fig. 5. As soon as the higher part of the cam 18 passes the stud42 the plate 51 will be rocked back again in the direction of the arrow0 in Fig. 5, so that the pawl 52 at the right will shift the frame 6 fora distance of two notches in the direction of the arrow q. Then theplate 51 will be again rocked in the direction indicated by arrow w, andso on, until the studs 56 strike the unlocking-pieces 55 and bring thelatter into such a position that the righthand pawl will be disengagedand the lefthand pawl put into engagement. It will be noted that fromthis time on each rocking movement of the plate 51 in the direction ofthe arrow 11 will move the frame 6 in the direction of the arrow q inFig. 5 until the other studs 56 engage the unlocking-pieces rection ofmovement of theframe 6. The arm 40 and stud 42 are so placed that theshifting of the frame 6 takes place immediately after a disk, 1 has beenelevated to its position of rest.

If a certain disk or tune-sheet of the series has been selected and thisselection requires that the frame 6 shall be shifted to an extentgreater than the space between two adjacent disks in either direction,the operating end 66 of the lever 65 will be pressed down, so as tocouple the crank 71 with the shaft 70, and simultaneously the shaft 62will be rocked, thus, on the one hand, disengaging the pawls 52 fromtheir rock-bars and, on the other hand, releasing the arm 80, which isnow moved into operative position by its spring 82. Now on turning thecrank 71 the frame 6 may be shifted in either direction. The rotation ofthe shaft 75, as before stated, not only shifts the frame stop by step,but also depresses the arm 80 and disengages thest'ud 81 from thelocking-notches, so as to leave the frame 6 free to move. When the frame6 shall have been thus shifted, pressure on the arm or knob 66 isremoved and the weight of the rod 64 disengages the clutch 69 69Simultaneously with this the shaft 62 is rocked and the pawls 52 allowedto engage, and the arm 84 on said shaft 62 presses down the arm 80 andmoves its stud.81 out of operative engagement with the lockingnotches.The frame 6 is now again adapted for being shifted mechanically.

Each disk or tune-sheet '1 has in its peripherya notch 86, Figs. 9 and10, and a roller 87 bears and rolls on the edge of the rotating disk.This roller and the notch in the disk are so placed that at thetermination of the piece of music played by the disk the roller engagesthe said notch and holds the disk from rotating. This roller 87 iscarried by an arm 88,'pivotally mounted on the bar 3, carrying the disk,and a rather weak spring 89 tends to press the roller up elastically tothe edge of the disk. This device is not designed to lock the diskagainst the driving action of the rollers 22, but to hold the diskagainst incidental rotation when suspended and at rest and to stop it,after playing, at exactly the proper time.

In order to hold the bar 3 of the lowered operative disk when the latteris about to begin its rotation for playing, each bar 3 is at tached by acord or connector 90 to a rod 91, supported in arms 92 on the frame 6.Thus the traction which the disk tends to exert on its bar 3 atthebeginning of itsrotation will be resisted by said connector 90. V 1Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a musical instrumentof the character described, mechanism for changing and placing inoperative position the rotatable disks or tune-sheets thereof,comprisinga guideway, a horizontally-shiftable support or car riagethereon for the disks, pulleys on said carriage, flexible connectorsover said pulleys, a disk-elevating weight on one end of each of saidconnectors and a disk-holder on the other end thereof, the spring-barrelof the instrument, means intermediate the springbarrel and theelevating-weight of the disk that is in operative position, whereby saidbarrel elevates the weight at proper times, mechanism for holding theoperating-disk in position while playing, and intermediate mechanismbetween the spring-barrel and said holding mechanism, whereby the barrelactuates the latter.

2. In a musical instrument of the character described, mechanism forchanging and placingin operative position the rotatable disks ortune-sheets thereof, comprising a guideway, a horizontally-shiftablesupport or carriage thereon for the disks, pulleys on said carriage,flexible connectors over said pulleys, a disk-elevating weight on oneend of each of said connectors and a disk-holder on the other endthereof, a vertically-movable lifting-rod adapted to raise theelevatingweight of the disk that is in operative position, thespring-barrel of the instrument, mechanism between said barrel and saidlifting-rod whereby the former operates the latter at proper times, andmechanism which holds the operating-disk in position while playing andwhich is adapted to be actuated at proper times by said spring-barrel.

3. In a musical instrument of the character described, mechanism forchanging and placing in operative position the rotatable disks ortune-sheets thereof, comprising a guide- Way, a horizontally-shiftablesupport or carriage thereon for the disks, pulleys on said carriage,flexible connectors over said pulleys, a disk-elevating weight on oneend of each of said connectors and a disk=holder on the other endthereof, a vertically-movable lifting-rod adapted to raise theelevatingweight of the disk that is in operative position, thespring-barrel of the instrument, mechanism between said barrel and saidlifting-rod whereby the former operates the latter at proper time, saidmechanism comprising a volute cam driven by said spring-barrel, andmechanism between said cam and liftingrod, and means for holding thedisk in operative position while playing, said means being actuated atproper times by the said springbarrel.

4:. In a musical instrument of the character described, mechanism forchanging and placing in operative position the rotatable disks ortune-sheets thereof, comprising a guideway, a horizontally-shiftablesupport or carriage thereon for the disks, pulleys on said carriage,flexible connectors over said pulleys, a disk-elevating weight on oneend of each of said connectors and a disk-holder on the other endthereof, a vertically-movable lifting rod adapted to raise theelevatingweight of the disk that is in operative position, the spring-barrel of the instrument, mechanism between said barrel and saidlifting-rod whereby the former operates the latter at proper times, arocking bar provided with rollers to bear upon the operating-disk, saidbar carrying means for holding said disk against the weight tending toelevate it, and mechanism between said bar and the springbarrel wherebythe latter operates the former at proper times.

5. In a musical instrument of the character described, mechanism forchanging and placing in operative position the rotatable disks ortune-sheets thereof, comprising a guideway, a horizontally-shiftablesupport or carriage thereon for the disks, pulleys on said carriage,flexible connectors over said pulleys, a disk-elevating weight on oneend of each of said connectors and a disk-holder on the other endthereof, a vertically-movable lifting-rod adapted to raise theelevatingweight of the disk that is in operative position, the spring-barrel of the instrument, mechanism between said barrel and saidlifting-rod whereby the former operates the latter at proper times, saidmechanism comprising a volute cam driven by said spring-barrel andmechanism bet-ween said cam and liftingrod, a rocking bar provided withrollers to bear upon the operating-disk, said bar carrying means forholding said disk against the weight tending to elevate it, andmechanism between said bar and the spring-barrel whereby the latteroperates the former at proper times.

6. In a musical instrument of the character described, a mechanism forchanging and placing in operative position the rotatable disks ortune-sheets thereof, said mechanism comprising a guideway, ahorizontally-movable carriage 6 thereon, a flexible connector for eachdisk of the series, led over pulleys on said carriage, a disk-holder,consisting of a bar 3 and axial stud 2, secured to one end of each ofsaid connectors, a Weight 7 secured to the other end of each connector,the springbarrel 20, a cam 18, connected to and rotating with saidbarrel, a weighted lever 11, having a finger 14, an arm 15, having astud which is pressed up to the cam by said lever 11, avertically-movable lifting-rod 10, coupled to the lever 11 and actuatedby the latter, a roller-carrying, rocker-bar 21, adapted to keep thedisk or tune-sheet pressed up to the mechanism for producing the musicalsounds, and provided with a segment 35, for holding the stud 2 inposition, a spring-lever 28 connected with the bar 21 and provided witha projection 31, and an arm 33, connected with the spring-barrel andprovided with a stud which actuates the lever 28, substantially as setforth.

7. In a musical instrument, having a guideway,a horizontally-shiftablecarriage or frame thereon supporting a series of verticallymov able,suspended disks or tune-sheets, a mechanism for automatically shiftingsaid carriage after each revolution of the spring-barrel of theinstrument in order to move said disks successively into position, saidmechanism comprising two rack-bars mounted on the carriage, a rockingpawl-plate 51, provided with two spring-pawls adapted to engagealternately the respective rack-bars, means between the spring-barreland pawl-plate whereby the former rocks the latter for shifting thecarriage, unlocking-dogs 55 on the pawl-plate, for disengaging thepawls, and studs 56, at the ends of the rack-bars and adapted to actupon said pawls for reversing the carriage, substantially as set forth.

8. In a musical instrument of the character described, a mechanism foreffecting mechanically the change of the disks or tune-sheets, saidmechanism comprising a carriage movable along a horizontal guideway, thesaid guideway, and means for suspending the disks from said carriage, ofmeans for shifting said carriage by hand, so as to bring any one of thedisks to the point for lowering it into operative position, comprising anotched bar 79, on said carriage, a shaft 75, carrying a singlecrank-pin 77, adapted to engage one of the notches in said bar at eachrotation of said shaft 75, whereby a complete rotation of the shaft isnecessary to move the bar one step, and mechanism adapted for handoperation for rotating said shaft.

9, In a musical instrument of the character described, a mechanism foreffecting mechanically the change of the disks or tune-sheets, saidmechanism comprising a carriage movable along a horizontal guideway, thesaid guideway, and means for suspending the disks from said carriage, ofmeans for shifting said carriage by hand, so as to bring any one of thedisks to the point for lowering it into operative position, comprising anotched bar 79, on said carriage, a shaft 75, carrying a singlecrank-pin 7 7, adapted to engage one of the notches in said bar at eachrotation of said shaft 75, whereby a complete rotation of the shaft isnecessary to move the bar one step, mechanism for rotating the shaft 75by hand, and'a spring-arm 80, adapted to be depressed by the crank-pin77, and provided with a stud to engage locking-notches in the lower partof the bar 79, for locking the shifted carriage during the time thecrank-pin 77 is out of engagement.

10. In a musical instrument, a mechanism for changing the disks ortune-sheets thereof, comprising a guideway, a carriage for supportingthe disks and movable along said guideway, a rocking pawl-plate 51,provided with two spring-pawls, two rack-bars mounted on said carriageand adapted to be engaged alternately by the respective pawls, thespring-barrel of the instrument, intermediate mechanism whereby saidbarrel imparts a rocking movement to said pawl-plate for shifting thecarriage, unlocking-dogs 55, cooperating with studs 56 011 the rack-barsand acting on the pawls to reverse the shifting direction of the saidcarriage, a notched bar 79, rigidly mounted on the carriage, a shaft75,provided with a crank-pin 77 to engage the notches in the bar 79,hand-operable mechanism for rotating the shaft 75, and means fordisconnecting one of the carriage-shifting mechanisms, said meanscomprising the two arms 58, adjacent to the respective pawls on thepawl-plate, and coupled to an intermediate crank-shaft 62, the saidshaft, a vertical rod 64, coupled to a crank on the'shaft 62, a clutchfor connecting and disconnecting the hand-operable mechanism, and anintermediate device between the rod 64 and said clutch for operatingthem simultaneously, whereby the hand-operable mechanism is madeoperative at the same time that the mechanically-operable mechanism ismade inoperative, all combined and arranged substantially as set forth.

11. In a musical instrument, a mechanism for changing the disks ortune-sheets thereof, said mechanismcomprising a horizontal guideway, adisk-supporting carriage 6 movable along said guideway, means forsuspending each of the disks from said carriage, a disk-holder on oneend of each suspending device and consisting of a bar 3 and an axialstud 2, a weight 7 attached to the other end of said suspending device,the spring-barrel" 20 of the instrument, a cam 18 rotating with saidbarrel, a weighted lever 11, having a finger 14, an arm 15, having astud which bears on the cam 18, being pressed up thereto by the lever11, an upright, movable rod 10, coupled to the lever 11, the rocking bar21, provided with rollers to bear on the operating-disk during theplaying, a segment 35 on the bar 21 and adapted to hold the disk-axis inposition while playing, a spring-lever 28, connected to thebar 21 andprovided with a projection 31, an arm 33, on the spring-barrel andprovided with a stud to engage the projection 31, mechanism formechanically Shifting the carriage 6, consisting of the rockingpawl-plate 51, provided with spring-pawls, the two rack-bars 54, havingstuds 56 at each end, said bars fixed to the carriage 6 and the teeth ofthe respective bars facing in oppo site directions, two unlocking-dogs55, for the respective pawls, the bevel-wheels 49 and 50, a crank-shaft48, a vertical rod 46, the elbow-lever 44, the link 43, and the arm 40,having a stud which bears on the cam 18, all combined and arranged tooperate, substantially as set forth.

12. A mechanism for changing the disks or tune-sheets of a mechanicalmusical instrument, comprising a horizontal guideway, a disk-supportingcarriage 6, movable along said guideway, pulleys on said carriage,flexible connectors over said pulleys, one for each disk, a disk-holder,comprising the bar 3 and axial stud 2, secured to one end of each con--nector, a weight 7 secured to the other end of each connector, thespring-barrel 20 of the instrument, the cam 18, connected to androtating with said barrel, the weighted lever 11 having a finger 14which bears on the arm 15, said arm 15, having a stud which bears on thecam 18, being pressed up thereto by said weighted lever, an upright,movable rod 10, connected to the weighted lever 11, the rocking bar 21',provided to bear on the operatingdisk during the playing, a segment 35,on the bar 21, and adapted to hold the disk-axis in position whileplaying, a spring-lever 28, connected to the bar 21 and provided with aprojection 31, an arm 33 on the spring-barrel and provided to engage theprojection 31, when the barrel rotates, and actuate the lever 28, andmechanism for shifting the carriage 6 by hand, said mechanism consistingof the notched bar 79, on said carriage, a shaft 75, having a crank-pin77 to engage the notches in said bar, the upright shaft 74, the shaft70, the gears connecting the shafts 70, 74 and 75, and the-crank 71 onthe shaft 70, substantially as set forth.

13. A mechanism for changing the disks or tune-sheets of a mechanicalmusical instrument, comprising a horizontal guideway, a disk-supportingcarriage 6 movable along said guideway to bring the disks, one by one,into operative position, pulleys on said carriage, flexible connectors,one for each disk, over said pulleys, a disk-holder, comprising a bar 3and axial stud 2, attached to one end of each of said connectors, aweight 7 attached to the other end of each connector, the spring-barrel20 of the instrument, a cam 18 secured to and rotatin g with saidbarrel, a weighted lever 11 having a finger 14, which bears on an arm15, the said arm 15, having a stud bearing on the cam 18, a lifting-rod10, connected to the weighted lover, a rocking bar 21, provided withrollers to bear on the operating-disk, a segment 35 on the bar 21,adapted to hold the axis of the operating-d isk in position,aspringlever 28 connected with the bar 21 and provided with a projection31, an arm on the barrel 20 and adapted to engage the projec tion 31when the barrel rotates, thus actuating the arm 28, and mechanism forshifting the carriage 6 by hand, said mechanism consisting of a notchedbar 79 on said carriage, a shaft 75,- having a crank-pin 77 to engagethe notches in the bar 79, when the shaft is rotated, an actuating-shaft70, provided with a crank, the intermediate shaft 74, the gearsconnecting the shafts 70, 74 and 75, and a spring-arm 80, provided witha stud to engage notches 83 in bar 79, said arm adapted to be moved intoinoperative position by the crank-pin 77, substantially as set forth.

14. A mechanism for changing the disks or tune-sheets of a mechanicalmusical instrument, comprising a horizontal guideway, a disk-supportingcarriage 6 movable along said guideway to bring the disks, one by one,into operative position, pulleys on said carriage,

flexible connectors, one for each disk, over said pulleys, adisk-holder, comprising a bar 3 and axial stud 2, attached to one end ofeach of said connectors, a weight 7 attached to the other end of eachconnector, the spring barrel 20 of the instrument, a cam 18 secured toand rotating with said barrel, a weighted lever 11 having a finger 14,which bears on an arm 15, the said arm 15, having a stud bearing on thecam 18, a lifting-rod 10, connected to the Weighted lever, a rocking bar21, provided with rollers to bear on the operatingdisk, a segment 35 onthe bar 21, adapted to hold the axis of the operating-disk in posi tion,a spring-lever 28 connected with the bar 21 and provided with aprojection 31, an arm 33 on the barrel 20 and adapted to engage theprojection 31 when the barrel rotates, thus actuating the arm 28, arocking pawl-plate 51, provided with two pawls, two rack-bars 54, on thecarriage, and provided with studs 56, two unlocking-dogs 55 for thepawls,the bevelwheels 49 and 50, the crank-shaft 48, the vertical rod46, the elbow-lever 44, the link 43, an arm 40, having a stud whichbears on the cam 18, a notched bar 79 fixed on the carriage 6, a shaft75, having a crank-pin engaging the notches in the bar 79, theoperating-shaft 70, the intermediate upright shaft 74, the gearingconnecting the shafts 70, 74 and 75, the crank 71 on the shaft 70, andmechanism for disconnecting the hand-operated mechanism, the samecomprising the upright rod 64, the clutch for coupling the crank 71 toits shaft, the clutch-operating lever 67, one arm of which is coupled tothe rod 64, a lever for lifting the rod 64, the crank-shaft 62, rockedby the rod 64, the two arms 58, connected together and to a crank-arm onthe shaft 62, and adapted to impinge upon studs on the pawls forsimultaneously disengaging the lat ter, substantially as set forth.

15. In a mechanism for the purpose specified, the combination with meansfor suspending, carrying and lowering the disks or tune-sheets, of meansfor preventing the accidental rotation of the disk on its axis, saidmeans consisting of a spring-arm pivotally mounted on the disk-holderand provided with a roller adapted to roll on the edge of the rotatingdisk and to engage a notch or recess in said edge, substantially as setforth.

16. In a mechanism for the purpose specified, the combination with theguideway, the carriage movable thereon, the suspendingconnectors forthedisks, and the disk-holders, each comprising a bar 3 and axial stud 2,of the arm 88, pivotally mounted on the bar 3, the spring 89 of said.arm, and the roller 87, carried at the free end of said arm and adaptedto engage a notch in the edge of the disk, substantially as set forth.

17. In a mechanism for the purpose specified, the combination with theguideway, the disk-supporting carriage movable thereon, the flexiblesuspenders for the disks, and the disk-holders, each consisting of a bar3 and IIC) axial stud 2, of means for preventing the dis- In witnesswhereof I have hereunto signed placement of the lowered disk when aboutto my name, this 7th day of October, 1899, in the begin its rotation,said means consisting of presence of two subscribing witnesses.

supporting-arms 92, on the carriage, a rod 91 ALFRED J AOOARD-ROD. 5carried by said arms, and cords or connectors Witnesses:

90, one connecting each bar 3 with the rod 91, ERNEST SCHNEIDER,

substantially as set forth. EUGENE FAVRE.

